Developer builds privacy-first URL shortener using only PHP and MySQL on shared hosting

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A developer has created a free URL shortener that runs entirely on basic shared hosting using plain PHP and MySQL, without Redis, queues, or paid external services. The tool is built as a WordPress plugin, intercepting short URLs before page rendering and resolving them via a single indexed SQL lookup. Instead of scheduling cleanup jobs, expired links are deleted on-the-fly when accessed or when new links are created, eliminating the need for background infrastructure. Click analytics are included but designed with privacy in mind, storing only a timestamp, referring domain, and device type — no IP addresses, cookies, or user profiles. The project was motivated by the developer's desire to offer basic link analytics without the surveillance practices common in free URL shortener services.

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